After suffering a number of injury setbacks throughout the first three seasons on the list, Sam Naismith made the most of his uninterrupted preparation to 2016.

The 206cm big man didn’t play his first game of the season until Round 16 when injuries to Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair forced them onto the sidelines.

Naismith grasped his opportunity with both hands playing every game for the remainder of the season including the 2016 Grand Final.

He developed himself into an elite tap ruckman who matched it with some of the best big men in the competition to give his midfielders first use.

Naismith’s ability to get more of the footy around the ground improved as the season went on which was highlighted by his 13 disposals in the Grand Final against the Bulldogs.

In his own words
"Coming into the team halfway through the year and holding my spot then playing in a Grand Final was pretty special for me. To come into the team and play alongside players that are playing that hard footy it really drives you. I needed to get on top of injuries, I needed to play consistent footy week in and week out and I thought I was able to do that this year. To be able to play in the seniors was a great learning experience for me and it is going to be great for my career over the next few years." Sam Naismith on SwansTV

Stats
Games: 12
Kicks: 3.5
Handballs: 5.7
Disposals: 9.2
Hit outs: 23.1
Tackles: 3.3
Goals: 3

Through the lens